On 9 September, Airlines International Representation in Europe (AIRE) convened the Sustainable Skies Forum in Brussels — a high-level platform designed to advance the policy and investment discussions critical to delivering on Europe’s sustainable aviation objectives. At a pivotal time for the industry, the event offered a valuable opportunity to assess progress, identify barriers, and strengthen alignment among stakeholders committed to decarbonising aviation.
The forum brought together a broad spectrum of participants, including representatives from EU institutions, national authorities, airlines, energy producers, financial institutions, and civil society. Discussions focused on the enablers required to accelerate the deployment of innovative technologies and sustainable fuels, in particular the scale-up of electric Sustainable Aviation Fuels (eSAF).
A key message that emerged throughout the day was the central role of financing in unlocking the sector’s decarbonisation potential. While the technological and regulatory foundations for eSAF are being laid, the absence of mature financial instruments and de-risking mechanisms continues to hinder progress. Securing long-term offtake agreements and mobilising capital towards Final Investment Decision (FID) remain significant challenges. Without scalable, targeted support — both public and private — the transition risks losing momentum.
Participants also stressed the importance of looking beyond short-term milestones. While the outlook to 2030 is encouraging, sustained progress will require a long-term vision that ensures efficient resource allocation, cross-sector coordination, and resilience in the face of growing interdependencies between transport, energy, and industrial policy.
In this context, the upcoming Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP), currently under preparation by the European Commission, was highlighted as a key opportunity to embed a truly multimodal perspective in EU investment planning. Aviation’s role within the broader transport ecosystem must be recognised and supported to ensure an inclusive and effective transition across all modes.
The event featured contributions from a wide range of institutional and industry stakeholders, including the European Commission, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), European Investment Bank (EIB), International Air Transport Association (IATA), Transport & Environment (T&E), SkyNRG, ORLEN S.A., Repsol, Shell, LanzaJet, Airport Regions Council, ICF, and Neos SpA, among others. Their insights reinforced the urgent need for consistent policy frameworks, greater coordination across the value chain, and a shared commitment to long-term climate goals.
AIRE remains committed to facilitating dialogue and cooperation among stakeholders, ensuring that Europe’s aviation sector can meet its climate objectives while remaining competitive, connected, and resilient. The Sustainable Skies Forum marked another step forward in this collective effort — highlighting not only the progress made, but also the work that lies ahead.
